Alexandra´s Low Octane Alphabet

[Alexandra]

Thanks, Sarah! I´ve finished The Girl Who Played with Fire yesterday evening (could not put it down and read into the night). I quite liked it and I want to read the third part as soon as possible...

[Alexandra]

I´ve finished Regarding Ducks and Universes. It was interesting and I quite liked the idea of the story but somehow it did not get there. I rated it two stars because it was ok - exactly what a two star rating requires. Not spectacular but also not bad - just ok.

[Sharon75uk]

Alexandra wrote: "Thanks, Sarah! I´ve finished The Girl Who Played with Fire yesterday evening (could not put it down and read into the night). I quite liked it and I want to read the third part as soon as possible..."

Also love Stieg Larson books :)

[Sarah]

Alexandra wrote: "Thanks, Sarah! I´ve finished The Girl Who Played with Fire yesterday evening (could not put it down and read into the night). I quite liked it and I want to read the third part as soon as possible..."

Glad you enjoyed it.

[Alexandra]

Finished . I only read it as I found it on my bookshelf and the author´s last name started with "N". It´s not my cup of tea - quite strange and partly even disgusting (for my taste). Moving on to "o"...

[Alexandra]

Finished and I quite liked it. I learned a lot of interesting things about owls...

[Cherie]

Alexandra wrote: "Finished and I quite liked it. I learned a lot of interesting things about owls..."

I did too! I thought it was a facinating story.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm glad you enjoyed reading about Wesley.

[jaxnsmom]

Wesley was such a cute book. I listened to it and was so happy they included the disc with the pictures - just adorable.

[Alexandra]

I enjoyed it just as much. The funny thing was, I bought that book second hand and someone had put a feather (maybe from an owl?) in between the pages...
I loved the stories when Wesley wanted to jump into the bath tub etc...
Thanks again for recommending it!!!

[Janice, Moderator]

I have a friend who rescues birds and she was brought a baby owl that was only days old. She's raised that owl to adulthood and calls him Timber. The man who brought it to her was trimming trees and the bird fell out of it. Timber loves his bath and I've seen videos of him splashing around in the sink.

[Cherie]

Wow!
Does your friend keep dead rodents in her freezer too?
I tried the 'thinking about the nail clipping' thing on my Arfican Grey parrot, Lucky, but she would not go for it. She will NOT let me clip her nails while she stands on her perch. I am glad she forgives me for having to wrap her in a towel though.

[Janice, Moderator]

I don't think she feeds Timber mice. When he was a baby, she fed him some specialized meal worm. I've forgotten what she feeds him. He's not the same kind of owl as Wesley which may explain the differences. I do remember her telling me that Timber snatched a potato chip out of her husband's hand and ate it!

[Alexandra]

Janice wrote: "I don't think she feeds Timber mice. When he was a baby, she fed him some specialized meal worm. I've forgotten what she feeds him. He's not the same kind of owl as Wesley which may explain the ..."

That is funny. But why shouldn´t they get addicted to potato chips just like us. My grandmother had a budgie when she was younger and whenever they had guests an served them wine, he would dive straight into somebody´s glass, have a little drink and return to his cage where he would fall asleep - next mornings he was usually a little hung over. They tried but could not get his drinking habits in control :-).

[Rusalka, Moderator]

My chickens as chicks would try and drink your wine, and coffee. Or swim in it. They (all our chicks and ducklings have) sit on my shoulder to keep warm against my neck and wrap themselves in my hair like they would feathers. I'll never forget being on the phone to my mum when one jumped off my shoulder, into a coffee cup and and started swimming. Such a waste of coffee.

They learnt that water came in glasses and it was good, so other things in glasses should be good too! It is very cute to see a week old chick climb into a water glass and drink.

We're talking about getting some Cockatiels. Mainly as we want some owls, but they seem impossible, if not illegal to have in Aus. Maybe they'll develop your Grandmother's budgie's habits.

[Janice, Moderator]

My cat likes the smell of coffee. She doesn't try to drink it, just likes to get a good sniff or two of it.

[Alexandra]

I´ve finished . It´s beautifully written but somehow it was not my cup of tea - very dark and twisted. It left me feel quite sad...

[Alexandra]

I´ve finished . It was a nice read but somehow I am not too excited about classics. I keep on trying and would really like them but I get the impression that if a book was written over some decades ago, it has a tendency to be rather boring. In this case, the author managed to dfescribe over 25 pages how a certain character stood at the train station, waiting for a train. I might be not patient enough and call me ignorant but I thought that one could have shortened this book by a good 550 pages and then it would have been just fine... Moving on to "U" now.

[Alexandra]

Finished . Rated it 5*. Loved it!

[jaxnsmom]

Wow, that's great you found a book worth 5 stars! It sounds compelling, but for some reason I can't read books with forced prostitution in them.

[Cherie]

Alexandra wrote: "I´ve finished . It was a nice read but somehow I am not too excited about classics. I keep on trying and would really like them but I get the impression that if a ..."

Alexandra - do not feel bad about thinking that the book could have been shorter. You are absolutely not the only one who felt this way. I am astounded if this was the first book you chose as a classic read and you made it all of the way through! Whew!

There are many, many classics that are really worth reading, so I am hoping to encourage you to find some more and give them a try before you give up.

[Alexandra]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Wow, that's great you found a book worth 5 stars! It sounds compelling, but for some reason I can't read books with forced prostitution in them."

I understand what you mean. They are not forced, though. Well, depending on how you would define "being fored" as they do it because that´s their only option in order to try to make a better life. But it is definitely emotionally challenging...

[Alexandra]

Cherie wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "I´ve finished . It was a nice read but somehow I am not too excited about classics. I keep on trying and would really like them but I get the imp..."

Thanks, Cherie.It´s not the first classic I read but one of the longest :-). I can not quite put my finger on what I did not like as the book was more than well written, the story was good, etc... It´s like looking at a great painting that somehow just doesn´t meet your personal taste. You can not blame the artist but you would not want to put it on your living room wall :-)

How did you like Anna Karenina?

[Cherie]

I am sorry, Alexandra. I have not read it yet. I only know what I have seen commented about the book in ohter threads in this group. I think Travis read/listened to it and I know that others have too.
Connie, Rusalka, Pragya, Scott, Neene, Jenny C, Bucket, and Chrissie have marked it as read.

[Alexandra]

Finished Cutting for Stone, rated it 5 stars, loved it!!!

[Cherie]

Alexandra wrote: "Finished Cutting for Stone, rated it 5 stars, loved it!!!"

I have this one on my list. Glad to hear that you really liked it!

[Alexandra]

Cherie wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "Finished Cutting for Stone, rated it 5 stars, loved it!!!"

I have this one on my list. Glad to hear that you really liked it!"

Definitely. I am sure you will like it, too, Cherie!

[Alexandra]

Finished . I liked it a lot.

[jaxnsmom]

I had to add this to my tbr since I've enjoyed two of her other books.

[Esther]

Alexandra wrote: "Finished . I liked it a lot."

And i will be using it as my X book. Thanks

[Alexandra]

I am sure you will like it a lot, Jmom and Esther. Xinran describes the lives of Chinese peasant women who came to the city to work in a fascinating way. Eventhough this book is rather non-fiction than a novel, I could not put it down. I hope you´ll enjoy it just as much!

[Alexandra]

I´ve finsihed . I liked it a lot, even though it is soooo sad.

[Alexandra]

Finished and finished my alphabet, yay!

[Cherie]

Great job finishing your alphabet, Alexandra. You finished up with a great one too. It was at the beginning of mine.

Your Y book looks interisting. "Told from a husband's point of view..." I can do sad. I added it to my list.

[Lisa]

Way to go Alexandra! :)

I hope you enjoyed your books? What did you think of The Book Thief?

[Alexandra]

Thanks Cherie. I was very lucky with the books I picked for my alphabet, I enjoyed most of them a lot.
I can highly recommend A Happy Marriage. It is just a great book and as the author mixes the sad with happy episodes, the sad part is manageable somehow. I hope you´ll enjoy it just as much!

[Alexandra]

Lisa wrote: "Way to go Alexandra! :)

I hope you enjoyed your books? What did you think of The Book Thief?"

Thank you Lisa :-).

I loved The Book Thief. I could not put it down anymore, finished it almost in one go and sneaked it into the office with me ;.). Eventhough it was sad, I liked the ending a lot, especially once I found out who the narrator was (I must admit that took me almost until the end, ahem)...

[Lisa]

Yay! I am so glad you enjoyed it. It is one of my favourites. I really liked the ending too, it was sad but I think it fitted the story well. As far as the narrator goes, I knew prior to reading the book whose perspective it was told from, but a friend of mine didn't guess who it was until near the end either.

[Alexandra]

Lisa wrote: "Yay! I am so glad you enjoyed it. It is one of my favourites. I really liked the ending too, it was sad but I think it fitted the story well. As far as the narrator goes, I knew prior to reading th..."

Oh good, I´m glad I´m not the only one who didn´t get it :-).

[Lisa]

No, you are not the only one ;) After all, he certainly isn't the most obvious candidate for a narrator! That is another reason why I enjoyed the book so much, the author's choice of narrator made a refreshing change.

[jaxnsmom]

Hooray Alexandra! Congrats on finishing you alphabet!

[Janice, Moderator]

Congratulations on finishing your alphabet Alexandra! The Book Thief is a great finish. I can't wait for the movie.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Grats Alexandra!!

[Alexandra]

Thank you :-)